Adjustable support mechanism for ear muffs and similar articles



Aug. 28, 1962 c. P. FOGARTY 3,050,739

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR EAR MUFFS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

f7 TTOENE Y Au 28, 1962 c. P. FOGARTY ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR EAR MUFFS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (me .55 P Pas/127V INVENTOR.

' asserts Patented Aug. 28, 1962 fire 3:,d5ilfi39 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MTLCl-IANISh/l FGR EAR Milhn AND SIMILAR ART1LES Charles P. Fogarty, 58-46 84th Place, Ehnhurst, N.Y. Filed Jan. 8, 1960, Ser. 1 o. 1,350 7 Claims. (1Z1. 2-269) This invention relates to ear muffs and similar articles, such as head ornaments, and is particularly directed to a device for supporting a pair of ear muffs, or similar articles in such a manner that they can be slid in and out of position and also individually rotated out of their position, when not in use.

The conventional type of ear muff is supported by a head piece or band, which is fitted to the head, a frame member, to which the ear muff is fitted being fixed relative to the frame, so that it can be held in only one position.

In order to remove the ear mufis from the ears, it is then necessary to completely remove the support band and carry it.

The primary feature of this invention is that it enables the support band to be retained on the head, while the ear muff support frame is slid along the band and clamped thereto in its adjusted position, the individual ear muff support frame being supported in such a manner that it can be rotated out of its normal mounting position, thereby moving the ear muffs away from the ears of the wearer.

Another feature of the apparatus is that the ear muffs, or other articles are adjustably mounted in such a manner that they can be adjusted to any required position to accommodate various sizes and forms of head, and fit over various types of hair dressing.

Another feature of the apparatus is that essentially the same clamping device can be used for ear muffs, and also for other types of ornaments or articles, the essentials of the clamping means being substantially the same.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, together with the description of its construction and the method of support, adjustment, mounting and utilization thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of one embodiment of the clamping mechanism, mounted on a band, such as that shown in FIG. 2, showing the method of adjustably supporting the ear muff frame relative to the band. I

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the retainer band and the clamping mechanism shown in FIG. 1, taken on the line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section through the band shown in FIG. 2, and a side elevational view of the ear muff support and clamping mechanism, shown in FIG. 2, taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section through a portion of the ear muff support and clamping mechanism, showing the means for pivotally supporting the ear muff frame, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the section being taken on the line 4-4, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 1, of the band, with the pivoted support mechanism for supporting a pair of frames and ear muffs from the band, including the two frames and ear muffs.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and the method of operation of the Adjustable Support Mechanism for Ear Muifs, is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout hte various views except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the construction, shown in FIGS.

l, 2, and 3, is supported by a band 10 of substantially rectangular cross-section, which follows the general contour of the head of the wearer, the band, which is made of 'a plastic material, having a gap at the open end thereof, to enable the band to be fitted to the head of the wearer.

The support mechanism comprises a buckle 11, which is slidably fitted to the band, with a clamping member 12, pivotally attached to the buckle, the clamping member being supported by a pair of substantially cylindrical pivot extensions 14, 14a projecting outward from the clamping member, or a pivot pin, which are supported by aligned openings through a pair of substantially parallel cars 15, 15a, which straddle the band, and are located substantially perpendicularly to the base plate 16, of the buckle, which is located adjacent the inner face of the band 10.

The clamping member pivotally supports an ear muff frame 18 of substantially oval arcuate contour, which in the normal operative position is located substantially parallel to the outer wall 19 of the clamping member 12.

A clip 2%, which supports one end of the frame 18, is pivotally supported by a rivet or pivot pin 22, which passes through aligned openings through both the outer wall 19 of the clamping member 12 and the fiat strip section 2.3 of the clip.

The clip 2% includes a formed tubular beaded section 25, which is formed by wrapping the clip material around a narrow cross-piece 26 of circular cross-section, which is integral with the frame 18, the cross-piece connecting two curved side sections 28, 28a, of the frame, which are located adjacent the sides of the clip 20. V

A narrow flange 29 is integral with the end of the clip adjacent the beaded section 25 thereof to grip the crosspiece of the frame.

The rivet 22 which pivotally supports the clip 20 has a head 30 integral with one end thereof, a flat dished head 31, of substantially circular contour being formedat the opposite end of the rivet, the length of the rivet 22, between the heads 30, 31 thereof, being great enough to allow the clip 20 to rotate freely about the rivet 22.

The clamping member includes a gripping flange 32, integral with the outer end thereof, the gripping flange, which is of substantially rectangular form and substantially perpendicular to the outer wall of the clamping member at the outer end thereof, having a plurality of pointed teeth 33 integral with the outer end thereof, the tips of the teeth being located in such a position relative to the band 10, that when the clamping member is located in the clamping position shown in FIG. 2, the teeth dig into the adjacent face of the band, which may be made of a plastic, or similar material, in such a manner as to positively grip the band, and positively locate the clamping mechanism relative to the band 16. The teeth at the lower edge of the flange 32 may be eliminated, leaving a smooth straight edge at the bottom of the flange. Where a fabric coated band is used, or with a plastic band, the straight smooth edge protects the surface of the band.

The two side sections 28, 28a, of the frame, which are located adjacent the sides of the clip 2%, are held in place by a relatively narrow strap 34, of thin metal strip material, which is fitted to the side sections of the frame, the two integral arcuate ends 35 of the strap being wrapped around the arcuate side sections 28, 28a of the frame to hold the frame in place relative to the clip.

The base plate 16 of the buckle may be dished slightly, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of arcuate ends 36,36a, which are straight in one plane and or arcuate contour in the plane of FIG. 3, being formed integral with the relatively flat section of the base plate.

The surfaces of the arcuate ends 36, 36a of the base plate 16, located adjacent the inner surface of the band are relatively flat, thus enabling them to positively grip 3 the band 19, when the clamping member is moved into the clamping position, shown in FIG. 2.

While shown. and described as designed primarily for the support of a pair of ear muffs, essentially the same clamping'mechanism, except for theframes 16, used to support the ear muffs, may be used in conjunction with ornaments of various types, such as rosettes and the like, which may be supported by the clip 20, or a modification of the clip shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to pivotally support such an ornament.

Thus by using the same clip and substituting an ornamental object in place of the frame 18, to which the ear muffs are fitted, essentially the same clamping mechanism may be used interchangeably with essentially the same buckle and'band. construction. This could be accomplished by constructing the beaded end of the clip,

or the entire clip of a spring material, to enable a pair of suitable ornaments to be substituted in place of the ear muff frames 18.

In the same manner, a screw and nut combination may be substituted in place of the rivet 22, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to pivotally support the clip.

With this type of pivot construction, the entire clip 20 may readily be removed by the operator, by removing the width of the band being less than the width of the buckle,

between the inner surfaces of the ears thereof.

In the plane shown in FIG. 2, the band is either of circular segmental contour, or of other arcuate contour, following generally the contour of the head of the wearer,

the ends of the band having a gap therebetween, to enable the band to grip the head of the wearer, when worn.

The band is made of a spring-like material to enable it to be sprung out of position, to allow it to be fitted to the head of a wearer, the band being restored to substantially its normal contour, or following the contour of the head of the wearer, when fitted to thehead of the wearer.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows:

When the clamping member 12 is rotated about its pivot extensions 14, 14a to a position substantially perpendicu lar to that shown in FIG. 3, the gap between the inner surface of the arcuate ends 36, 36a of the base plate 16 and the face of the flange 32 of the clamping member is greater than the thickness of the band 10, thus allowing the buckle to be slid along the band, to any desired position, relative to the band.

In this position, each of the clamping members 12 is rotated into the position shown-in FIG. 3, in which the teeth of each flange 32 or the straight edge of the flange, where no teeth are used, grip the face of the band, thus positively positioning the clamping members and. the

frames supporting the two ear muffs, which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In order to move the ear muffs away from the ears of the wearer, the two clips 20, with the ear muff frames 18 attached thereto, are rotated about the pivot pins 22 to a position angularly related to, or substantially perpendicular to that shown in FIG. 1.

In this position, the ear muffs are out of range of the ears of the wearer, and can be retained in that position, or any other suitable position.

As the band 10 is held in place, relative to the head of the wearer, regardless of the position of the ear muff frames relative to the clamping member, the band, and the clamping members supporting the ear mulfs are clamped to the band in the position selected by the wearer.

When a pair of ornaments is supported by the band 10 in place of the ear mufi frames 18, the method of opera- 7 being substantially parallel to the outer surface of the tion and adjustment of the clamping members is subto any required angular position, relative to the clamping member, and the buckle 11.

The buckle and the clamping member are attached to.

the ear muff support frame or the ornament support member in the same manner as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and hereinbefore described in detail. I 7

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific details described above'and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention and the operation, support, adjustment and method of utilization thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: p

1. An adjustable support for head fittings, comprising a band of arcuate contour adapted to fit the head of a wearer, apair of support mechanisms fitted to the band, each of said support mechanisms including a buckle slidably fitted to the band, a clamping member pivotally supported by each buckle, the pivot means being substantially parallel to the outer surface of the band, each clamping member having means integral therewith adapted to engage and grip the outer surface of the band, a clip member supported by each clamping memclamping member including an integral flat outer wall,-

each clip member including .an integral fiat strip section, engaging one face of the outer wall of the mating clamping member, and pivot means extending through the strip section of each clip member and the plate section of the adjacent clamping member, each of said pivot means being adapted to pivotally support the mating clip memher, the outer wall of each clamping member being nominally substantially parallel to a plane tangent to the arcuate outer surface of the band.

2. An adjustable support for .a head fittings, as in claim 1, in which each of the head fittings comprises a frame formed of wire, each of said frames being of arcuate contour, each of said frames being adapted to support an ear muff.

3. An adjustable support mechanism for head fittings, as in claim 1, in which the head fittings include a pair of frames formed of wire, each of said frames being of arcuatecontour, each of said frames including an integral cross-piece located adjacent one end of the adjacent clip. member, one end of each of said clip members being bent over around the cross-piece of the adjacent frame, the bent section of each clip member being adapted to support the adjacent frame, and a strap straddling each frame and clip member the end of said strap being wrapped around the adjacent portion of the frame to rigidly support each frame. 7 p v 4. An adjustable support for a pair of ear muffs, comprising a band of arcuate contour, a pair of support mechanisms adjustably fitted to the band, each of said support mechanisms including a buckle slidably fitted to the outer surface of the band, a clamping member pivot ally supported by each of said buckles, the'pivot'means baud, each clamping member having a thin-walled tooth gripping member integral therewith adapted to engage and grip the outer surface of the band, a clip supported by each clamping member, each clip being supported by a pivot member, and an ear muff support frame supported by each of said clips, the axis of said pivot member supporting the clip being substantially perpendicular to the arcuate outer surface of the band, to enable the clip and the ear muff to be moved away from the band, the band being of substantially rectangular cross-section, each buckle being of substantially U-shaped cross-section and having one face thereof in normal engagement with one face of the band, each clamping member including a flat outer wall and a flange integral with the flat outer wall and substantially perpendicular thereto, each flange having a straight edge formed at the outer end thereof, the straight edge being adapted to grip one face of the band, each clip including an integral flat strip section engaging one face of the flat outer wall of the mating clamping member, pivot means extending through the strip section of each clip, and the flat outer wall of the mating clamping member, each of said pivot means being adapted to pivotally support the mating clip, the outer wall of each clamping member being nominally substantially parallel to a plane tangent to the arcuate surface of the band.

5. An adjustable support for a pair of ear muffs, as in claim 4 in which each of the ear muff support frames is formed of wire, each of said frames being of substantially oval arcuate contour.

6. An adjustable support for a pair of ear muffs, as in claim 4, in which each of the ear muif support frames is formed of wire, each of said frames being of generally oval arcuate contour, each of said frames including an integral cross-piece located adjacent one end of the mating clip, each of said clips having a hollow beaded section at one end thereof, the beaded section of each clip being adapted to be fitted over the cross-piece of the adjacent frame, to support the adjacent frame.

7. An adjustable support for a pair of head ornaments,

comprising a band of arcuate contour, a pair of support mechanisms adjustably fitted to the band, each of said support mechanisms including a buckle slidably fitted to the outer surface of the band, a clamping member pivotally supported by each buckle, the pivot means being substantially parallel to the outer surface of the band, each clamping member having a thin-walled toothed gripping means integral therewith adapted to engage and grip the outer surface of the band, a clip supported by each clamping member, each clip being supported by a pivot member, and a head ornament support means supported by each of said clips, the axis of said pivot member supporting the clip member being substantially perpendicular to the arcuate outer surface of the band, to enable the clip and the ornament supported thereby to be moved away from the band, each of the clamping members including an integral flat outer wall, each clip including an integral flat strip section in engagement with one face of the outer wall of the mating clamping member, and pivot means extending through the strip section of each clip, and the outer wall of the mating clamping member, said pivot means being adapted to pivotally support the adjacent clip, the flat outer wall of each clamping member being nominally substantially parallel to a plane tangent to the arcuate outer surface of the band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 280,005 Beard et al June 26, 1883 379,965 Lippincott Mar. 27, 1888 1,398,958 Basch Dec. 6, 1921 2,216,954 McDonough Oct. 8, 1940 2,437,049 Salisbury et al. Mar. 2, 1948 2,697,836 Lattuca Dec. 28, 1954 2,816,339 Prete et al. Dec. 17, 1957 

